The VAZ 2103 is definitely not the LADA VFTS, which was the subject of the AUTOLEHE 21 issue (1002) of 2 November (https://auto.geenius.ee/eksklusiiv/suur-lugu-kuidas-40-aastat-sundis-legendaarne-ralliauto-lada-vfts/ ) and which the average citizen could not dream of, it was a fully-fledged rally car.
This VAZ 2103 was the most desirable Soviet car, possessing superb dynamics and a luxurious cabin.
More than 50 years have passed since the first VAZ 2103 was driven, but to this day I never tire of admiring it! This is the BMW M5 of the Soviet car industry! And it’s hard to argue with that.
Someone will try to argue with me, perhaps where does the Volga GAZ 24???? The answer is simple, the Volga GAZ 24 was simply hands-off for the common man at the time and the Volga had none of the dynamics of the VAZ 2103, 0-100 in 17 seconds.
The VAZ 2103 was the fastest car available to the public in the rest of the USSR.
Even the introduction of the VAZ 2106 in 1976 with a 1.6 litre 75 horsepower engine did not sway the ’03’s dominance in dynamics. The VAZ 2106 did not surpass the 03 in dynamics or comfort.
The VAZ 2103 was the flagship of the Žiguli. Both inside and out, everything spoke of the fact that it was a ‘luxury class’ car.
The front was topped off with chrome, lots of chrome, even the rims of the wheel arches were trimmed with chrome trim (in the last few years of release, the chrome trim on the wheel arches was discontinued).
Only the VAZ 2103 was offered in such colour schemes as acid-green and bright orange.
The interior of the “03” was unmistakably nice, combining several different cabin colours.
The salon could be covered with a single shade of colour, or a combination of different shades.
For example, a dark blue or white VAZ 2103, with a black and red combined saloon. The dashboard, the upper parts of the door upholstery are in black, while the seats, the lower parts of the door upholstery and the floor mats are in red. Neither “01” nor “06” had anyone even dreamed of such a combination!
The door upholstery was completely covered in metal, the seats were combined with fabric silks, the rear seat had a central armrest. The dashboard, with its sporty looks, was adorned with a wooden panel, but the floor of the car was covered with a rubberised fabric carpet.
The ’03’ also stood out from the other Žiguli with better noise insulation. In the opinion of the specialists, the noise insulation of the ’03’ was not inferior to that of the more prestigious and inaccessible Volga GAZ 24.
But the VAZ 2103 1.5 litre 72 hp engine was produced almost until the end of its life. “The ’03’ did not look flamboyantly prestigious, but outperformed other Soviet automotive exemplars in both urban and rural traffic. And it’s hard to argue with that.
Any car enthusiast, born in the NSCV will agree with me.
The VAZ 2103 was the mark of a successful Soviet man. Recall the Soviet cinema shenanigans, like “Goodbye”, where a successful Ipolit drove an “03”. “Moscow Doesn’t Believe in Tears, also in the legendary 03.
But the VAZ 2103 can be called the true king of Žiguli!
Toomas Kuum